Arcelor-Mittal project to take off this month-end

MYSORE: The global steel giant Arcelor-Mittal's project to build a steel plant in Karnataka will take off shortly, CM's economic advisor K V Raju said on Wednesday.
Pointing to the launch of three projects signed during the global investors meet in June on a single day by CM B S Yeddyurappa, the economist said the state government is focused on following them up. He indicated that the land acquisition for the mega projects will not be a problem.
Senior officers are appointed as nodal officers and are tasked to follow-up these projects. The Arcelor-Mittal project will begin later this month, he said addressing industrialists during an interaction hosted by the Mysore zone of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). According to him, 166 large projects have got nodal officers to track their progress.
Referring to issue of land and water available to base these projects, he stated: "We have worked out details regarding land and water. There will be power available too with the plans for gas-based thermal plants."
CII Karnataka chief Aroon Raman, who partnered with the government during GIM, said the projects are moving forward. Im happy. The government is focused on development, he stated in his opening remarks. Raju added: Rs 5 lakh crore worth projects were signed during the GIM and even if 50 per cent of them materalise, it will be big. I know there are apprehension as to how many projects will get underway and how soon. Even if 50 per cent of the investment flows here, it will be huge, he said matter-of-factly.
Explaining as to how the government is going about to improve economy, Raju, in his session for over an hour, said: Focus in on job-oriented growth. Many of the projects signed during the GIM will get the state there. We need to shift from agriculture to non-agri sector for generation of jobs as 61 per cent employed in the agri sector are contributing 19 per cent to GSDP. There is also a need to increase rural income. A pilot project in 24 taluks spread in six districts has increased the yield owing to a programme. We have extended this to 12 districts now.
He said 2.40 lakh have been trained in skill development and another 4 lakh are in the loop this fiscal. The BJPs promise of 10 lakh jobs in five years will be met this way.